Barnes makes case for closer
Matt Barnes is looking like one pitcher the Red Sox don’t have to think twice about.
Barnes appeared in his first spring training outing against the Braves on Sunday and made quick work of them in a one-two-three inning. He struck out two and looked sharp.
“Felt good,” he said. “I felt really comfortable out there. I felt like the mechanics were working well. A couple high fastballs got away from me, but overall, the ball was coming out. Good command of the fastball. The breaking ball, I was really happy.”
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He previously said he wants to be named the closer, but manager Alex Cora said he won’t name one until the end of spring.
“Not on my mind at all, I’ll be honest with you,” Barnes said. “I don’t think I’ll be judged on eight outings in spring training more than the last four or five years of work. Obviously if there was something drastic, if I was coming out throwing 88 mph, that’s probably a topic for a different day. But if I come out showing the stuff that I’ve had my entire career …”
Barnes’ fastball velocity on Sunday was higher than it was all of last year, Cora said.
“My arm feels fantastic,” Barnes said. “It almost feels like I didn’t even pitch last year. I’m really happy with that. You’ve got to be conscious not to try and overdo it. Sometimes you feel so great that you push and push and you’ve got to be conscious that we still have three weeks until the season. I don’t need to blow it out right now.”
Another utility man
At this point the only surprise is that the Red Sox haven’t traded for Brock Holt and brought Ben Zobrist out of retirement.
If there’s a super-utility man available, the Sox have interest.
They added another on Sunday, officially coming to terms with Danny Santana on a minor league deal.
The 30-year-old Santana was a masher for the Texas Rangers in 2019, hitting .283 with 28 homers and 21 stolen bases. He was much worse last year, hitting just .145 with one homer and two steals in 55 at-bats before an elbow injury ended his season in late August.
He had a modified Tommy John surgery that’s supposed to keep him out seven or eight months.
“He’s a good player,” Cora said. “We saw what he did with the Rangers two years ago. Very versatile, athletic. I’m repeating myself, right, with the signings of position players? We’ll see where it takes us.”
Santana is one of just three players since 2017 to hit at least 15 homers while appearing at every position in the infield and outfield. The other two are also on the Red Sox: Kiké Hernandez and Marwin Gonzalez.
On a minor league deal, Santana is unlikely to start the year with the Sox.
“We’ve got to be patient with him,” Cora said. “Obviously he’s going to be part of camp, he’s going to work out today and it’s a good addition to the organization. Switchhitter that can hit the ball out of the ballpark. He can play multiple positions. He can run, too. Glad he decided to sign with us.”
Off-day creates uncertainty
The Red Sox have their first off-day of the spring today and Cora has asked that the players are careful to not have too much fun.
There are specific guidelines set forth by MLB that require players stay away from various indoor facilities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“I think overall they’ve done an outstanding job,” Cora said. “And I’m glad that they’ve been disciplined with that. When we talked before everything started, you take care of (your health), and the baseball side of it, we will be fine. But we have to be healthy. We have to take care of us and we’ve done an amazing job with that.
“But you know, it’s an off day, and an off-day here (in Florida). Hopefully it rains and it’s cold tomorrow here and there’s no temptation of going to the beach.”
Bogaerts on mend
Xander Bogaerts is “getting anxious” about his sore shoulder and if he’ll have enough time to prepare for the regular season, Cora said.
Bogaerts has begun throwing and hitting again and could get into games as soon as next weekend.
“The throwing part of it we have to be careful with,” Cora said. “But we feel very comfortable where he’s at right now. He told me ‘On April 1, I have to face this lefty throwing 95, 96 mph and I’m not going to be ready.’ And I said, ‘you’ll be ready, there’s plenty of at-bats.’”